It is the second phase of DWW’s maternal health program in Pakistan, a country ranked 3rd highest in the world where newborns die on their first day of life every year and aims to help to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality.

Serving a catchment area of 414 villages and an approximate population of 30,000 in Qambar Shahdadkot District of Sind Province, the centre will provide a vital lifeline (providing MNCH services) to expecting mothers, newborns and children in this desperately poor area, which borders Balochistan Province.

The centre has a team of 19 staff including women doctors and a paediatrician providing obstetric, antenatal and postnatal care and child health services. Free ultrasound services are also part of the package.

The provision of facility-based care through DWW RHC Junejo Medical Centre builds on our Phase 1 Mother & Baby Care Program, which was outreach based and community focussed. Started in May 2011, the program delivered training to Traditional Birth Attendants and provided clean birthing kits and micronutrients to women of a reproductive age who needed them to help reduce the risks of mothers and new born dying during or soon after birth.

A great big thanks to the local district authorities and our Sind team led by our global lead on maternal health, Dr Beenish Hanif for getting Phase 2 off the ground.